Hi guys,I have a 2005 wrx,just fitted and mapped with a sti engine,i changed the coolant over last weekend on the experts advice.
I took the rad plug out,drained the coolant,put it back in and filled the radiator up,and then the header tank and put a bit in the coolant bottle.

I first used the car today since doing that for a 7 mile journey,as i got back home i saw steam coming out from under the bonnet,engine smelt hot and the heaters were hot,temperature gauge had stayed at halfway which it always seems too.
I undid radiator cap and coolant came out which then emptied the header tank.
Im presuming ive got a airlock or ive done something wrong when i was refilling the coolant,any pointers would be great

 

Don't undo the rad cap when the engine is hot, that's a good one for starters.

You'll have spilt some coolant most likely when filling it, therefore the steam when it got hot. You've now spilt a load more coolant, so you'll get lots of steam.

 

sorry should mention that the cars been moved repeadtely round the drive but this was its first run out for it to get hot and it went to work for 7 mile this morning with no issues,only did it on the way home?

 

Hopefully not your head gasket?
Probably an airlock or a split/pin hole in a pipe?
Broken cap?

Search how to fill the system properly,alcazar's guied is a good place to start,it's been covered a couple of times so shouldn't be too hard to find

 

Maybe as said a bit of spillage drying off.

 

You are lucky you didn't cover yourself full of coolant, or worse get some nice burns. Water under pressure and also hotter than standard boiling temperature will alway push out once the cap is off..

Have a read of the guide ossett has suggested..

 

Cheers for advice guys,ill have a good read of the guides suggested.
To be honest the water didnt coming flying out,it was more like the header tank emptying in to the radiator and it made it overflow.It was hot but not boiling.
Ive got a mechanic coming to look at it today aswell cheers guys.

 

I have badly burnt my hand in the past taking the cap off a hot engine. Not the subaru just a £500 pug 106 .
Late for work in the morning a couple of winters back . The car over heats. I pull in to a garage . Im late for work and cant wait for the engine to cool down . So i tell myself there is not much water in the rad thats why its over heated. If i take the cap off slowly i can tighten it back up if it is going badly. Anyway as soon as i loosen the cap the pressure blows the cap clean off and out my hand and a fountain of boiling water erupts ,reaching the hight of a lampost . And rains back down .

I could do nothing but look in amazement at this sight .and also visit the tesco for some cream for my hand . Before visiting the hospital to get it properly treated.

Anyway . A Lesson learned

I have had steam coming from the subaru engine bay before. It was from a pin hole in the top rad hose. Which only shot water out while revving the engine.

 

Sounds incorrectly filled up to me

 

Fill it up through the two rad caps, simple innit

 

Fill rad up, put cap on, fill header tank. Run and top up as required.

 

Pressure test the coolant system (as you should do after any work on the cooling system) to 15-20 psi. With the correct kit.

 

Not the best way to avoid airlocks . . .

 

So you can fill it 'through' the 'rad cap' without removing it? Simple innyou

So now special tools are needed innit??

 

Yes the rad cap comes off on a 2005 blob.
Don't work on your car if you don't have access to the correct tools.

 

Never had a problem with my car and I've done it this way about 12 times in the past 3 years.

 

Ah I thought you said fill it 'through' the rad cap,you didn't say to remove it first.
I was thinking you had some kinda special tool to do that innit bruv!